North Andover Williamsport All-Stars win state sectional opener

Friday

Jul 18, 2014 at 12:01 PMJul 18, 2014 at 10:59 PM

By Joe McConnelljmcconnell@wickedlocal.com

The North Andover Booster Club Little League Williamsport Tournament All-Star team escaped with a 11-10 victory over Wilmington, the District 13 champs, in the State Section 4 opener at Tewksbury's Poulin Field July 16. They remain undefeated in touurrnment play at 7-0.North Andover was trailing, 7-3 going into the home half of the fourth on a grand slam by Dean Nally. But the home team once again refused to quit, and promptly scored six to take the lead, 9-7. Mike Gorgoni started the rally with a single up the middle. After a couple of walks loaded the bases, Tristan Latham was issued an intentional free pass to knock in a run, something that was a common occurrence in the district tournament, but this time he made sure the Wilmington pitcher used up the maximum pitches by swinging and missing twice. Nick Parisotto delivered the big hit with a two-run single to center that also scored one more run to put the locals up by one, 8-7. T.J. Fredo knocked in the ninth run with a blooper over second. But they needed two more in the fifth to seal the deal since Richie McNamara made things interesting with a three-run bomb over the centerfield fence in the sixth. Parisotto's two-run infield hit to second proved to be the margin of difference.Gorgoni once again got the win in relief, with Latham earning the save.The North Andover stars are back at it again tonight, July 18, when they go up against Hamilton-Wenham in the second game of the state sectionals at the same Tewksbury location, beginning at 7:30 p.m.